The Violet Crab

at DRAF, Camden

The Violet Crab at DRAF is an exhibition, performance and installation all in one, presenting works from the David and Indrė Roberts Collection alongside new commissions and live acts. Designed and directed by artist Than Hussein Clark, The Violet Crab at DRAF is an extravagant mise-en-scène taking the history of cabaret, queer culture and theatre as its inspiration.

Commissions by artists include murals by Allison Katz and Shaan Tariq Hassan-Syed, flower arrangement sculptures by Carter Mull, a video by Luiz Roque, with loans from iconic designers Claude and François Xavier Lalanne, a selection of paintings by Anj Smith, works by Cindy Sherman and jewellery by designer Frances Wadsworth-Jones.

Over sixty artworks from the David and Indrė Roberts Collection are present including many that have never been shown publicly before. Showing works never seen works by Caroline Achaintre, Charles Avery, Hans Bellmer, Gerald Leslie Brockhurst, Felipe Jesus Consalvos, William N Copley, Enrico David, Andre de Dienes, Cerith Wyn Evans, Barnaby Furnas, Burt Glinn, Juan José Gurrola, Erich Hartmann, Ansel Krut, Roy Lichtenstein, Ludovico de Luigi, Susan Meiselas, Marilyn Minter, Helmut Newton, Julian Opie, Grayson Perry, Pietro Roccasalva, James Rosenquist, Niki de Saint Phalle, Jerry Schatzberg, Cindy Sherman, Anj Smith, Joseph Edward Southall, John Cecil Stephenson, Joana Vasconcelos, Andy Warhol, Paul Wunderlich, Emily Young.

Live acts at the opening include those by science fiction writer Nina Allan, Anja Dietmann and pianist Fion Pellacini, Pierre Huyghe, dance artist Carlos Maria Romero, live draughtsman Isobel Williams, pole dancer by Ayumi LaNoire and go go dancers.

On 19, 20 and 21 March 2015, the climax of The Violet Crab at DRAF will see DRAF transformed into a cabaret for a live variety programme of more than twenty artistic, musical, literary and acrobatic acts. The three nights, ‘DZ Hosts The Violet Crab – Nights of Cabaret at DRAF’, will begin with Pierre Huyghe’s Name Announcer, trumpeting your arrival. Sip a delicious bespoke cocktail designed by Arabeschi di Latte. Maria Loboda reads her tarot cards and as you take your seats, marvel at Japanese bondage acts by pole dancer Ayumi LaNoire and fire-eater Ayumi LaNoire and Nina Russ. Meanwhile, Isobel Williams draws is drawing the characters live.

Meet your host: Berlin-based singer Anja Dietmann and artist Than Hussein Clark, performing songs inspired by historical cabaret. The show begins with a stand-up recital from American poet Matthew Dickman. A ballet dancer performs for the first time Christodoulos Panayiotou’s intimate philosophical letter. Zhana Ivanova choreographs a theatrical menage-a-trois. A new performance by Celia Hempton is premiered.

There are interval drinks with Adam Christensen playing ditties on the accordion. For the final act, Pipilotti Rist has imagined for you a male striptease. Glamourous starlet Wendy Bevan serenades the end of the night.

DZ Hosts The Violet Crab: Nights of Cabaret at DRAF is directed by Than Hussein Clark and special guest Milovan Farronato with DRAF.

Supported by DRAF Galleries Circle